Optical element drive mechanism

Abstract

An optical element drive mechanism is provided. The optical element drive mechanism has a central axis. The optical element drive mechanism includes an immovable part, a first movable part, and a first drive assembly. The immovable part includes a bottom. The first movable part is connected to a first optical element. The first movable part is movable relative to the bottom. The first drive assembly drives the first movable part to move relative to the bottom.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An optical element drive mechanism having a central axis, comprising:
 an immovable part comprising a bottom;   a first movable part connected to a first optical element, wherein the first movable part is movable relative to the bottom; and   a first drive assembly driving the first movable part to move relative to the bottom.   
     
     
         2 . The optical element drive mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a first-side circuit element electrically connected to the first drive assembly, wherein the bottom comprises an embedded circuit, and the first-side circuit element comprises:
 a first portion of the first-side circuit element having a plate-like structure, wherein the first portion of the first-side circuit element is disposed on the bottom,   wherein the first portion of the first-side circuit element comprises an electrical connection portion of the first-side circuit element, and the first portion of the first-side circuit element is electrically connected to the embedded circuit of the bottom via the electrical connection portion of the first-side circuit element, and   wherein the bottom comprises a bottom first surface facing the first portion of the first-side circuit element, and when viewed along a direction that is perpendicular to the central axis, the bottom first surface is located between a center of the first movable part and the first portion of the first-side circuit element.   
     
     
         3 . The optical element drive mechanism as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the first-side circuit element further comprises:
 a second portion of the first-side circuit element having a plate-like structure and not parallel with the first portion of the first-side circuit element; and   a bent portion of the first-side circuit element connected to the first portion of the first-side circuit element and the second portion of the first-side circuit element,   wherein the first drive assembly is electrically connected to the first portion of the first-side circuit element via the second portion of the first-side circuit element, and   wherein the first drive assembly comprises a first-side coil, the first-side coil has an outer surface of the first-side coil facing the second portion of the first-side circuit element, and when viewed along a direction that is perpendicular to the central axis, the outer surface of the first-side coil at least partially overlaps the first portion of the first-side circuit element.   
     
     
         4 . The optical element drive mechanism as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the first-side circuit element further comprises:
 a protruding portion of the first-side circuit element having a plate-like structure, not parallel with the first portion of the first-side circuit element, and parallel with the second portion of the first-side circuit element,   wherein when viewed along a direction that is perpendicular to the central axis, the protruding portion of the first-side circuit element does not overlap the second portion of the first-side circuit element.   
     
     
         5 . The optical element drive mechanism as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising a position sensing assembly sensing the movement of the first movable part, wherein the position sensing assembly comprises a position sensing element disposed on the protruding portion of the first-side circuit element, and the position sensing assembly is electrically connected to the first portion of the first-side circuit element via the protruding portion of the first-side circuit element. 
     
     
         6 . The optical element drive mechanism as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising a guiding assembly guiding the movement of the first movable part relative to the bottom and a position sensing element sensing the movement of the first movable part, wherein the guiding assembly comprises a second-corner guiding element, and when viewed along a direction that is perpendicular to the central axis, a center of the outer surface of the first-side coil is located between the position sensing element and the second-corner guiding element. 
     
     
         7 . The optical element drive mechanism as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising an external connection circuit element, wherein the first-side circuit element is electrically connected to an external circuit via the external connection circuit element, and the external connection circuit element comprises:
 a first portion of the external connection circuit element having a plate-like structure; and   a second portion of the external connection circuit element having a plate-like structure and not parallel with the first portion of the external connection circuit element,   wherein the second portion of the external connection circuit element comprises an electrical connection portion of the external connection circuit element, and the second portion of the external connection circuit element is electrically connected to the embedded circuit of the bottom via the electrical connection portion of the external connection circuit element,   wherein the second portion of the external connection circuit element is electrically connected to the external circuit via the first portion of the external connection circuit element, and   wherein the second portion of the external connection circuit element is parallel with the first portion of the first-side circuit element.   
     
     
         8 . The optical element drive mechanism as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein when viewed along a direction that is perpendicular to the central axis, the bottom first surface is located between the first portion of the first-side circuit element and the second portion of the external connection circuit element, and when viewed along a direction that is perpendicular to the central axis, the electrical connection portion of the first-side circuit element does not overlap the electrical connection portion of the external connection circuit element. 
     
     
         9 . The optical element drive mechanism as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising a second movable part connected to a second optical element, wherein the external connection circuit element further comprises:
 a third portion of the external connection circuit element having a plate-like structure and neither parallel with the first portion of the external connection circuit element and the second portion of the external connection circuit element; and   a movable portion of the external connection circuit element connected to the third portion of the external connection circuit element,   wherein the bottom is disposed between the first movable part and the second movable part, and the third portion of the external connection circuit element is disposed on the second movable part.   
     
     
         10 . The optical element drive mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the immovable part further comprises a casing and a mounting element disposed between the casing and the first movable part, wherein the mounting element at least partially covers a top surface of the first movable part and a top surface of the bottom. 
     
     
         11 . The optical element drive mechanism as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein both the casing and the mounting element comprise an anti-reflective material. 
     
     
         12 . The optical element drive mechanism as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the mounting element comprises two mounting-element holes located at diagonal corners. 
     
     
         13 . The optical element drive mechanism as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a guiding assembly guiding the movement of the first movable part relative to the bottom, wherein the guiding assembly comprises a second-corner guiding element and a fourth-corner guiding element, and a top of the second-corner guiding element and a top of the fourth-corner guiding element are connected to the two mounting-element holes. 
     
     
         14 . The optical element drive mechanism as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the first movable part comprises two first-movable-part recesses, and the guiding assembly further comprises a second-corner magnetic element and a fourth-corner magnetic element respectively disposed in the two first-movable-part recesses. 
     
     
         15 . The optical element drive mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the optical element drive mechanism includes a first side, a second side, a third side opposite to the first side, and a fourth side opposite to the second side, wherein portions of the first movable part near the first side and the third side have a straight-line segment, and portions of the first movable part near the second side and the fourth side have a curved-line segment. 
     
     
         16 . The optical element drive mechanism as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising an elastic assembly, wherein the elastic assembly comprises two pop-up elastic elements respectively disposed on the second side and the fourth side. 
     
     
         17 . The optical element drive mechanism as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising a second movable part disposed below the bottom, wherein the second movable part is movable relative to the bottom, and the pop-up elastic elements are located between the first movable part and the second movable part. 
     
     
         18 . The optical element drive mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first drive assembly comprises a first-side coil, and the first-side coil is a combination of FP coils and an FPC. 
     
     
         19 . The optical element drive mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a circuit assembly electrically connected to the first drive assembly, wherein the circuit assembly comprises:
 a first-side circuit element comprising a first portion of the first-side circuit element that is perpendicular to the central axis; and   an external connection circuit element comprising a first portion of the external connection circuit element that is parallel with the central axis and a second portion of the external connection circuit element that is perpendicular to the central axis,   wherein part of the bottom is sandwiched between the first portion of the first-side circuit element and the second portion of the external connection circuit element.   
     
     
         20 . The optical element drive mechanism as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the external connection circuit element further comprises:
 a third portion of the external connection circuit element that is parallel with the central axis; and   a movable portion of the external connection circuit element that is connected to the first portion of the external connection circuit element and the third portion of the external connection circuit element,   wherein the third portion of the external connection circuit element is located on a side of the optical element drive mechanism that is different from another side where the first portion of the external connection circuit element and the second portion of the external connection circuit element are located.